Clutch-release coupling



Dec. 13; 1927.

F. A. BRINKMAN CLUTCH RELEASE COUPLING 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 19.1926 @uvcntoz F A.Er--i.nkm 1111.

K 2 I Quota Patented Dec. 1 3, 1927;

. 'FRi Z WINKMAN. O Ham in. use 5 CLUTCH-RELEASE:CQUPLING.

Application filed J'u1y19, 19.26. Serial No. 123,452., J

:This invention relates to. couplings for connecting a plow or otheragricultural ma chine to a tractor, and has for its Object the provisionof inexpensivemeans which will Operate efficiently to draw the. machineat the rear of the tractor and willact automatically to stop the tractorin the event that the plow or other machine encounters large rock orother obstruction which would tendto destroy some of the workingelements. The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings andwill be hereinafterv fully set forth.

In the drawings: v

a Figure 1 is a plan view of a: portion of a tractor having my couplingmechanism connected therewith Fig. 2, is a side elevation of the same,the near ground wheel being removed;

3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing a different position'of theclutch control. I

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail transversesection." v r Fig. 5 is adetailperspective of-the guide pulley support. 1 Y

Fig. 6 is a detail of the linkshown in F 5 and the lever to which it isattached. 7

The tractor, a portion of which is indicated at 1 in aconventionalmanner, may be of any well-known design-and is equipped with a clutchpedal'2 whereby theengine shaft may be connected with the transmissiongearing or disconnected therefrom at In carrying out my invention, Iprovide a lever arm 3 which 1s 'rlgidly secured to the clutch pedal 2preferably on top and is preferably 'of angular formation whereby,

when in position, it will extend rearwardly from the pedal and thenupwardly in advance of the rear axle housing 4. The upper end of thelever 3 is beveled, as indicated 'at 5, and to the said lever below theLaidheyeld extremity is pivoted a link or bar 6 which is adapted'to iextend upwardly. 1n

alinement with the lever and be limited in its rearward movement bycontact of an inclined internal shoulder 7 with the beveled end 5 of thelever. To the free end of this link or bar 6 is pivoted a hook on whichis suspended a pulley 8, around which is trained a cable 9 having oneend secured to the rear axle housing by one of the bolts 10 which securesaid housing to the differential case. The opposite end-of the cable iscarried under the axlehousing and rearwardly beyond the sameto beattached to a coupling bar .ll whichl'has its rear end secured in; anyconvenient manner to the plow beam. The said "coupling barll is disposedat one side of a draft pole or tongue 12 which has its front endconnected to thedrawbar' 1'3 i of the tractor, as shown clearly in'thedraw ings, and at thev opposite side of the said draftbaris a secondcoupling bar 1 1 which is sim lar to the coupling-bar 11 and has itsrear end also secured to thei plow beam, v and 1t 1s to be understoodthat these coucoupling bars 11 and 14 havetheirfront end portionsconnected;- by the upperand lower plates 16. and 17 which passrespectively above and below and bridge the draft bar or tongue'12.These connecting plates 16 and 17 may be integrally connected at their sde edges to form a loop encircling the coupling bars. The upper plate 16is constructed with a longitudinal slot 16, and

two of the bolts'18, whereby the two plates are secured to the couplingbars, are eXtendedan appreciable distance above thecoupling. Heldupontheupper ends of the bolts 18 is a clip 19 which spans the space betweenthe bolts and is heldthereto'by nuts 20 in an obvious manner. This cliphas a central opening to slidably receive the upper.

for in the draft bar, as will be understood. The rear edge of this head22 is beveled as indicated at 23 and 24, while its front edge isvertical throughout its extent.

An expansion spring 25 1s coiled around the pin ion 21 between the clip19 and the head 22 and yieldably holds the head in the said slots, aswill be understood, the tension" of the spring being sufficient tonormally maintain thecoupled engagement of the parts.

In the normal position of the parts, the draft of the plow or othermachine holds the cable 9 taut while the chain 15 may be slightly slackand the coupling pin 21 will be held in engagement with the slots in theplate 16 and the draft bar 12 by the force of the spring 25. Should theplow or other machine strike some rock or other obstruction which willimpede its progress, the increased draft will overcome the tension ofthe spring 25 so that the heveledlower end of the head 22 thereof willride out of the slot in the draft bar 12 and the coupling bars 11 and 14will then he permitted to move slightly rearward in respect to the draftbar. This rearward movement will, of course, increase the tension in thecable 9 so that a downward pull will he exerted through the hook uponthe link 6 and the lever 23, swinging the clutch pedal 2 downwardly andforwardly so that the clutch will he opened and the further travel ofthe tractor will he stopped. The obstruction can then he removed and theparts restored. to normal position. To facilitate the replacing of thecoupling pin in its normal position, the link 6 may he swungforwardly,as shown in Fig. 3, so that the clutch pedal may then he again closedwithout putting tension upon the cable 9; and it will be noted that thehook 6O maintains the cahle at the side of the link and below the upperend thereof in all positions of the link. so thatthe cable cannot heentangled with the linkor the lever at any time. The transmissionmechanism may then he thrown in reverse position so that the tractorwill he backed su'liicieut to permit the drawhar 12 to ride under thepin 21 until the lower end of the pin again engages the slot 12 in the:lrawhar. The link 6 will then he again swung upwardly to the positionshown in Fig. 2 and the operation of the machines may he resumed. Thechain 15 provides a strong connection between the tractor drawbar andthe coupling bar 14 so that the plow may he pulled out of the ditch bythe operation of the tractor, if necessary.

The draft bar 12 and the upper connecting plate 16 are provided withopenings 8t] and 31 which may he made to register and receive a breakpin to ell'ect a temporary coupling in an emergency.

The device is exceedingly simple in the construction and arrangement ofits parts and may he easily applied to any tractor and will operate:u'lvantageouslywhen so applied.

It will, of course, he noted that an operator seated upon a plow orother trailing implement may pull upon the cable and thereby stop thetractor. i

Both ends of the cable may be secured to the tractor so that, when thelink 6 is swung described the invention, I

the draft har, plates connecting the coupling);

ham and passing above and helow the draft liar. a. coupling; pin carriedby said plates and arranged to engage the draft har, means foryicldahivholding the wNlllllllgl; pin in engagement with the draft liarand pcrn1itlint: release of the coupling pin and? ahnormal strain, andmeans for connecting one of the coupling bars with the clutch pedal ofthe tractor and operable to open the clutch when the coupling bars arereleased irom the draft bar. i

2. ll'l echanism for the purpose set forth comprising a draft barconnected to a tractor. coupling hars disposed at opposite sides of thedraft har and slidahly sup mrted at their front ends thereby, yieldahlemeanscarried hy the coupling bars and engaging the draft bar to connectthe coupling hars thereto, said means normally resisting slidingmovement of the coupling bars, ineans connecting one of the couplingliars with the clutch of the tractor and oherahle to' open the clutchupon release of the said yieldahle means, and a connection independentof the draft har hetween the othen coupling bar and the tractor. i

5. l\[echanisn'| for the purpose set forth con'iprising' a lever securedto the clutch pedal of the tractor, a link pivoted to said lever nearthe free end thereof, interene'ag ing means on the link and the free endof the lever to limitrearward movement of the link, a pulley hung on theouter side of the link, and a cable secured at one end to the tractor inrear of the lever and at the other end 'lastened to a trailingimpleuuait and having; its internualialu portion around said pulley andheld taut whereby pull. upon the cable will open the clutch and stop thefurther travel of the tractor.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature...

FRITZ nnraKMAn. he

trained

